More detail on this person: Alfred C. "Al"
Smith, 77, passed away Monday, September 23,
2013.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday
at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Visitation will be from
6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Biggers Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, donations are requested for
the research of Alzheimer's, the North Texas
Humane Society or the Lake Worth Area Historical
Society.
Al was born in Galena, Kansas and was raised and
attended schools in Blackjack and Riverton
Kansas. He graduated high school in Galena, in
1953, then entered the US Army; serving in
Germany, Greenland, and Alaska. In 1963 he
entered helicopter pilot training and graduated as
a Warrant Officer. Flying helicopters in Vietnam
in 1965-1966, he earned the Distinguished Flying
Cross, the Bronze Star and numerous Air Medals.
He was honorably discharged in 1967 as a Chief
Warrant Officer. Later, he flew for Tennessee
Valley Authority, owned and operated a grocery
store, and worked as a sales representative prior
to becoming one of the first Civilian Helicopter
Pilots for the City of Fort Worth. He retired as
the Fort Worth Police Department Chief Pilot and
Division Commander in 1993. For the last 13 years
of his career with the Police Department, he was a
Reserve Police Officer for Fort Worth. Since their
marriage in 1977 he and his wife Karen resided in
Lakeside, where he also held volunteer jobs as a
City Councilman, Lay Municipal Judge and Road
Commissioner. He held memberships in the
Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, Airborne
Law Enforcement Association, the Fort Worth
Police Officer's Association, the Distinguished
Flying Cross Society, the Lake Worth Area
Historical Society and the Lake Worth Boating and
Ski Club.
Al was preceded in death by his father and mother,
Allen and Edith Smith; sister, Evelyn Barnes; and
brothers Don Smith and C. Allen Smith.
Al is survived by his wife, Karen Reddick Smith of
Lakeside; mother-in-law, Mary Lou Reddick of Lake
Worth; brother, Orval Smith and wife, Rosia of
Galena, Kansas; several nieces and nephews.
This information was last updated 06/13/2012
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